The Guide to Boil Water Alerts

The Vicksburg Water Treatment Plant takes pride in providing a safe water supply for its customers. Should there ever be a question as to the safety of this supply, the City of Vicksburg issues boil water alerts. The Bureau of Public Water Supply, in recognition of Vicksburg's longstanding record of compliance, defers this responsibility to local officials.

So, you might ask, what would necessitate the issuance of a boil water alert? Alerts are issued when the following occurs:

• The water system loses pressure on all or part of the system; or• The system is compromised and there is the possibility that all or part of the water system can or will become contaminated.

If the City of Vicksburg needs to issue a boil water alert, the following steps are taken:

• Contact is made with customers affected. If only a few customers are affected, notification is made by personal contact, door-hangers, or notes taped to their doors. If a large part (or all) of the water system is affected, City officials contact local radio stations, The Vicksburg Post, TV23, and City of Vicksburg web site managers so that information can be passed on to the customer through these avenues.• Samples of water from the affected areas are collected each day and monitored. Once the samples are clear for two (2) consecutive days, the alert is lifted and users are notified that the water is safe to drink.

If you are affected by a boil water alert:

DO NOT

• Do not drink tap water while the water system is under boil water advisory.• Do not drink from water fountains in parks or public/private buildings that receive water from the system.• Do not use ice made from water today. Freezing will not necessarily kill harmful bacteria.• Do not use tap water to make drinks, juices, or fountain soft drinks.• Do not use tap water to make tea or coffee unless the brewing process brings the water to a boil for at least one minute.

DO

• Wash dishes in boiled water or use paper plates for the next few days.• Wash fruits and vegetables with boiled or bottled water since they may have been exposed to affected water from grocery store sprayers.• Wash your hands and bathe as usual. Bathing is safe as long as no water is swallowed.• Brush your teeth with boiled or bottled water.• Cook with tap water if the food will be boiled for at least one minute.

AND REMEMBER:

• Properly chlorinated water in swimming pools is safe.• Fish in aquariums are not affected.